Coetzee: Why Venter is the right fit for Boks

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has no doubt Brendan Venter will make an impact on the national team.

Coetzee, addressing the media at a three-day training camp in Stellenbosch, said that the defensive "chaos" of last season will not reoccur when they host France during June in a three-Test series.

The Springboks conceded 35 tries in losing a record eight of 12 Tests in 2016.

Fifteen of those tries were scored by New Zealand, the greatest rivals of South Africa, including nine in Durban.

Coetzee is banking on his new defence coach, Venter, to plug the gaping holes of last season.

"When we talk about the involvement of Brendan [Venter], as a consultant, there are two aspects," Coetzee said.

"We share the same philosophies about the game and that is why he wanted to come on board to work with me.

"The second thing is that he can add a lot of value."

Coetzee also made reference to the "experience" of Venter - who coached in varying roles with the Stormers and Sharks in South Africa, as well as London Irish and Saracens in England.

He was the Italy defence coach in the Six Nations championship this year and credited with the no-ruck ploy that initially baffled England at Twickenham.

"He is an experienced coach that has worked abroad for a long time and has a lot of knowledge on how to build a structure," Coetzee said.

"I have no doubt he will make an impact.

"It was chaos last year, because of the number of defensive coaches we had.

"At least now we have an opportunity. That is what these camps are about - they are giving us an opportunity to put those things in place.

"By June the players would have had enough time.

"I am confident there will be a big improvement."

The extended Springbok squad continued with their pre-season training in Stellenbosch on Monday.

The Boks got together on Sunday for the second of three pre-season training camps.

* Meanwhile Stormers scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage was called up in place of his provincial teammate Jano Vermaak, who was injured in the win over the Cheetahs this past Saturday.

Also present at the Monday field session at the Paul Roos Markötter Stadium were a couple of additional Stormers players, who were roped in after a number of other players were ruled out of taking contact because of various niggles.